Bracelet bending machine with work clamping device and arbor



March 22, 1949. JOH 0 2,465,101

' BRACELET BENDIN' A NE W WORK CLAMPING DE GE AND AR R Filed June 10,1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

March 22, 1949. JOHNSON 2,465,101

BRACELET BENDING MACHINE WITH WORK CLAMPING DEVICE AND ARBOR Filed June10, 1947 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 22, 1949 HE!) STATES PATEN'E FICE BRACELET BENDING MACHINEWITH WORK CLAMPING DEVICE AND ARBOR Application June 10, 1947, SerialNo. 753,629

4 Claims. (Cl. 15340) This invention relates to improvements in anapparatus for making half sections of tubular bracelets.

A method for making half sections of bracelets with which I am familiaris to helically wind a length of prepared tubular bracelet stock upon anarbor. This provides a tubular-like length of stock which is thereaftersevered lengthwise at diametrically opposite sides thereof, thusproviding a plurality of semi-circular sections. The end extremities ofeach section require a machining operation in order that the endsurfaces of each section may extend at right angles to the side walls ofthe sections.

Another method with which I am familiar for bending tubular braceletstock in semi-circular sections is to first cut the stock in properlengths and thereafter fill each cut length with powdered alum. Theselengths of stock thus prepared will not collapse when bending intosemi-circular sections. This method eliminates machining the endextremities of the sections as is required in the above method ofpreparing bracelet half sections. However, much time is consumed infilling the tubular lengths with the powdered alum.

One of the objects of this invention is to improve generally on theabove methods of making tubular bracelet half sections.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus forforming semi-circular bracelet sections of tubular stock which willeliminate the use of powdered alum and the like.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus formaking semi-circular bracelet sections wherein the walls of the braceletstock will be supported at the point of bending.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus formaking semi-circular bracelet sections wherein the walls of the braceletstock will .be supported at the point of bending and in which thesupport will be anchored in a manner so that the bracelet stock will bepulled from the support as drawn through the bending rollers.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus formaking tubular semicircular bracelet sections wherein a floating mandrelor arbor is detachably held in position and Which will provide a meansfor supporting the walls of the bracelet at the point of bending.

- Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus formaking tubularsemicircular bracelet sections wherein the shafts of thebending rollers will be firmly supported on either side thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the left side of the apparatus shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the forming rollers between which thebracelet stock is formed into semi-circular sections;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along line l l of Fig. 3showing the manner in which the clamping means is related to the driveshaft and driven roller;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a fragmental portion of the rollersshowing the walls of the bracelet stock as being supported at the pointof bending;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the mandrel and a support therefor andportions of the bending rollers with the bracelet stock extendingtherebetween;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mandrel;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a length of bracelet stock prior tobending into semi-circular shape;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a tubular bracelet half section.

The invention in general provides bending rollers having thecircumferential surfaces there of grooved so as to conform to the crosssection shape of the bracelet stock. One of the rollers is driven andthe other mounted for free rotation. On the driven roller, a clampingdevice is pivotally mounted with the tail end portion thereof extendinginto an opening in the drive shaft and is moved into and out of clampingrelationship by the rotation of the shaft. Thus, when the rollers arerotated in a direction so as to draw the stock between the bite thereof,the clamp will be moved to secure the stock on the roller and whenrotated in the opposite direction the clamp will be moved out ofengagement With the stock. With the end portion of the stock properlyclamped to the driven roller, the rotation of the roller will draw thestock through the bite of the rollers and wrap it circumferentially inthe groove in the driven roller.

In order to prevent the walls of the bracelet stock from collapsing atthe point of bending a support is provided. This support is in the formof a mandrel or arbor on which is threaded a length of bracelet stock.The arbor is supported on the apparatus at one end only. The other endof the arbor extends between the bending rollers at the point whereinthe bracelet stock is initially bent in wrapping the same about thedriven roller. The mandrel is detachably held in place so as to permitthe removal thereof to facilitate the threading or loading of thebracelet stock thereon. I

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of theinvention, i9 designates gen erally an apparatus embodying theinvention. The apparatus comprises a base ii having a fiat surfaceadapted to rest upon a workbench or other suitable support l2. The basemay be provided with side flanges it having openings therein forreceiving lag screws M for securing the base to the bench. At the frontportion of the base, an upright bearing 55 is provided, and there isjournaled in this bearing a shaft it. The upper portion of the shaft 18has a reduced threaded portion ll and a further reduced upper end poition it. A roller i9 is mounted on the shaft l8 for movement therewith,although said roller is permitted a limited degree of rotation by a workclamping device 39 (see Fig. 3) as later described. This roller l9 restsupon the upper end of the bearing l and is held in place on the shaft bymeans of a washer and nut connection 26 which engages with the threadedportion l'l. This roller I9 is provided with a groove 2! which conformsin part to the cross section of the bracelet stock to be formed or bentinto a semi-circular bracelet section. The shaft is rotated by means ofa gear 22 which is fastened to the lower portion of the shaft by aspline connection 23. The base is provided with spaced grooves 24 inwhich there is slidably mounted a slide 25. A stud shaft 25 extendsupwardly from the slide 25 and is secured thereto such as by means of afriction fit and provides a mounting for a roller 28 which is mountedthereon for free rotation relative thereto. The upper part of this studshaft is reduced and threaded as at 29 with the upper extreme portionfurther reduced as at 3%. A nut and washer connection 3! which engagesthe threaded portion 29 secures the roller 28 in place on the shaft 26.The roller 28 is provided with an annular groove 32 which i positionedto be in line with the groove 2| on the roller I9. These two grooves 2iand 32 provide an opening at the bite of the rollers which conforms inoutline to the cross section of the bracelet stock. The roller 28 isadjustable of a threaded member 33 which is threadedly received in aboss 34 extending upwardly from the base I I. This threaded memberextends into the slide 25 and has an annular groove 35 therein. A pin 36extends through the slide 23 and into the groove 35 so as to attach themember 33 to the slide 25 in a manner so as to permit rotation thereof.The other end of the threaded member is provided with a handle or handwheel 3'5 for rotation of the member 33 to move the slide to or from theroller 19.

After the proper adjustments of the spacing between the rollers i9 and23 have been made, a strap 38 is positioned to engage the reduced endportions i8 and 30 so as to maintain the rollers in proper relation.This strap 38 is provided with an opening 39 in which is received thereduced portion it of shaft I6 and an elongated opening ll] in which isreceived the reduced portion 3t of shaft 26. An adjusting threaded memtoand from the roller 59 by means ber 44 has an enlarged head 42 and isthreadedly received in the strap 38. The end portion of member iiextends into engagement with the reduced portion 32 of shaft 26. Bymeans of member H the effective length of the strap may be varied so asto provide for the spacing between different size rollers I9 and 28. Acheck nut #53 is provided for locking the threaded memher in adjustedposition.

The roller E9 is the driven roller of the pair and in order to rotatethe same a shaft 44 is iournaled in a bearing 55 which extends upwardlyfrom the base ll. Mounted on the shaft 44 at the lower portion thereofand so as to rotate therewith is a pinion gear wheel 36. This gearengages with the gear 22 to rotate the same. The shaft is secured at theupper portion of the bearing by means of a nut 41 which threadedlyengages the upper end of the shaft. A hand wheel :38 is provided formanually rotating the shaft. it wiii be apparent that as the wheel 48 isrotated, the gear rotating therewith will rotate the gear 22 and throughthe shaft I6 rotate the roller It.

In bending the bracelet stock into semi-circular form, the braceletstock is wrapped a half turn circumferentially in the groove 2| of theroller !9. To this end a clamping device 49 (see Fig. 3) is provided forsecuring the bracelet stock to the roller IQ. This clamping device 49 ispivotally mounted as at 50 in a recess 5| provided in the roller 59. Therecess opens into the groove 2! in the roller 59. The clamping devicecoinprises a body portion having a lip 52 extending forwardly of thepivot 59. The shaft 16 is grooved as at 5 2- and receives therein thearm 53. When the shaft i6 is rotated in a direction toward the bite ofthe rollers, the side wall of the groove 54 will engage with the arm 53and move the same about the pivot 50 so as to move the lip 52 toward thebottom of the groove M or in clamping relation with the roller l9. Whenthe shaft I 6 is rotated in the opposite direction, the opposite wall ofthe groove 54 will engage the arm 53 on the opposite side thereof andmove the arm about the pivot 50 in a direction to move the lip away fromthe bottom of the groove 2! or out of clamping relation with the rollerl9.

In operation one end portion of the bracelet stock is positioned in thegroove 2| and beneath the lip 52 (see Fig. 3). The roller [9 is thenrotated in a direction toward the bite of the rollers. This will, aspreviously described. move the lip 52 into engagement with the braceletstock beneath the lip 52 and clamp the same to the bottom of the groove21. Further rotation of the roller l!) in the same direction will carrythe stock to the bite of the rollers to bend the stock and wrap the samein the groove 2| of the roller i9. In order to release the braceletsection so made, the roller i9 is merely rotated in the oppositedirection to release the clamping device ii).

In order to support the stock at the point of bending, an arbor 56 isprovided. This arbor, best shown in Fig. 7, is formed in cross sectionto conform with the inner cross section of the stock which is to be bentinto semi-circular section. This arbor is provided with a head 51 andpins or abutments 58 which project out wardly from the sides thereof.The bracelet stock, which has been previously cut into proper length andwhich may be in the form 'of that shown in Fig. 8, is threaded or loadedonto the arbor 56 with the extreme end portion of the stock extendingjust beyond the end 59 of the arbor. The arbor with the bracelet stockthreaded thereon may be attached to the roller 19 by inserting beneaththe lip 52 the end portion of the bracelet stock extending beyond theend of the arbor 56 and then clamped to the roller in the mannerpreviously described.

The arbor 59 is detachably supported by the base H by means of a strap69 which is adjustably secured to the base H by means of spaced threadedmembers iii. The threaded members 6| are threadedly secured to a sidewall of the base and extend therefrom and pass through openings 82 inthe member 99. The member 60 is secured to these members 6| by means ofnuts 63 and 63'. The nuts 63 are adjustable along the length of thethreaded members 6t to provide adjustable abutments against which member69 abuts. There is mounted at the forward end of the member 69 avertical slide 64. This slide is manually movable upwardly and whenreleased will fall by gravity to initial position. A handle 65 may beprovided for convenience in moving th slide. The upper portion of theslide is provided with a groove or recess 66 which extends inwardly fromthe upper edge thereof and is positioned to be substantially in linewith the common tangent of the rollers l9 and 28. The arbor is receivedin this groove 66 with the abutments 58 thereof abutting against theouter side of the slide 94,

In the operation of the apparatus, the stock is threaded or loaded ontothe arbor 56 and attached to the driven roller 19 all in a mannerpreviously described. As a matter of convenience, the bracelet stock isattached to the roller l9 from the front of the apparatus. This willposition the arbor at the location shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 1.Rotating the driven roller I9 in a direction to clamp and draw the stockbetween the bite of the rollers will swing the arbor and the stockthereon so as to be in line with the recess 66, the slide 64 havingpreviously been allowed to fall by gravity so as to permit the arborpassing thereover. The operator manually raises the slide 64 so as toposition the arbor in the groove 66. Further turning of the roller I9 inthe same direction will draw the bracelet stock off the arbor andthrough the bite of the rollers to bend the same to be wrapped in thegroove 2| of roller l9. In order to remove the now bent bracelet sectionfrom the roller I9, the roller is rotated in the opposite direction.This will release the clamping device 49 and the formed section may bewithdrawn from the roller l9.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a modification of a support for the arbor 56.The modified support 61 has a slot 68 which is positioned to extendgenerally horizontally and in the path of the arbor when swung about theroller IS. The end of the arbor 58 will be received in the slot 68. Thearbor 56, when used with the modified support, will be provided withabutment 69 extending from the arbor generally widthwise thereof so asto engage the side of the support adjacent the slot 68.

The clamping device 49 also pro ides the means for rotating the roller I9 with the shaft 16.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for bending bracelet stock in semi-circular sectionscomprising a pair of rollers one of which is driven, a shaft associatedwith said driven roller, an arbor having an end portion thereofextending to a position at a location between said rollers to supportthe walls of the bracelet stock when bending into semicircular form, aclamping device pivotally carried by the driven roller, and meansengaging one end thereof to move said clamp into and out of clampingrelation upon movement of said shaft.

2. An apparatus for bending bracelet stock in semi-circular sectionscomprising a pair of rollers one of which is driven, a shaft associatedwith said driven roller, an arbor on which the bracelet stock isthreaded and having an end portion thereof extending to a position at alocation between said rollers to support the walls of the bracelet stockwhen bending into semi-circular form, and a clamping device pivotallycarried by the driven roller and having a portion thereof engaged bysaid shaft and moved into and out of clamping relation upon movement ofsaid shaft, said clamping device locking said driven roller to saidshaft for movement therewith.

3. An apparatus for bending bracelet stock in. semi-circular sections,comprising a pair of rotatable rollers one of which is driven, a supportspaced from the rollers and having a recess therein in line with thebite of said rollers, an arbor on which the bracelet stock is threaded,means carried by the driven roller for attaching the bracelet stockthereto, said arbor being initially supported by the bracelet stock whenattached to said driven roller and swung by said driven roller in lineto be received in said recess when said driven roller is moved in adirection to bend said stock, and projections on said arbor for engagingsaid support to hold said arbor in position.

4. An apparatus for bending bracelet stock in semi-circular form, a pairof rollers one of which is driven, a shaft associated with said drivenroller and having a recess therein, and a clamping device pivotallymounted to the driven roller and having a portion thereof extending intosaid recess and moved by the walls of the recess to move the oppositeend portions of said clamping device into clamping relation to thedriven roller.

ALVIN NORMAN JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 749,013 Anderson Jan. 5, 19041,094,676 Mountford Apr. 28, 1914 1,401,394 Curtis Dec. 27, 19211,598,294 Lundvall Aug. 31, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date447,841 France Jan. 16. 1913

